Danzmode students are at it again.
The Burnaby studio, which was profiled in the NOW in the summer when students achieved success at the West Coast Dance Explosion national finals, has once again raked in the honours at a prestigious championship.
The New York City Dance Alliance's 20th anniversary regional championships were recently held in Vancouver, Washington, and local dancers made a splash.
"This year was a bit of a standout year for our studio and our dancers that attended the competition," said Danzmode Productions' director, Jesse Grasby, in an email. "Eleven of our 15 group numbers entered won 'Platinum' - the highest medal awarded to groups. ... We had many first-place finishes and won numerous other awards and scholarships."
Among the group achievements, the studio's performance group, dancing The I.D., earned both Critics' Choice and Judges' Pick for the second consecutive year.
The performance group's Critics' Choice win qualified them for the national finals coming up in New York City.
The studio's solo dancers also earned honours.
The top soloist honour, Outstanding Dancer, is chosen after an audition process involving hundreds of dancers. Twelve Danzmode students made the final round, and Danzmode's Marie-Pierre Hovasse - a Burnaby Central Secondary student - won Teen Outstanding Dancer. Marie-Pierre's win qualified her for the national finals in New York.
The studio also had two Teen Outstanding Dancer runner-ups, Rachael Withers and Jennifer Chu, and a Teen Male Outstanding Dancer Runner-up, Josh Phillips - another Burnaby Central student.
Danzmode's senior company and intermediate company also earned multiple honours, and the studio also won the Backstage Good Sportsmanship Award.
Below is a list of the studios awards, as provided by director Jesse Grasby:
Marie-Pierre Hovasse - Teen Outstanding Dancer
Rachael Withers - Teen Outstanding Dancer Runner-up
Jennifer Chu - Teen Outstanding Dancer Runner-up
Josh Phillips - Teen Male Outstanding Dancer Runner-up
PERFORMANCE GROUP
"The I.D."
• Platinum
• Judges' Pick Winner - Judges' favorite number, all ages, all genres
• Critics' Choice Winner - Judges' favorite Teen number(s). This win qualifies us for the National Finals in New York this July!!!
• 1st place High Score Teen Overall
• 1st place High Score Teen Open
• 1st place High Score Teen Group
• Studio Standout Award
• Outstanding Execution
• Outstanding Choreography
• Outstanding Style
"Let Go"
• Platinum
• 1st place High Score Teen Contemporary
• 2nd place High Score Teen Group
• Nominee for Critics' Choice Award
• Outstanding Choreography
• Outstanding Interpretation
"Laura"
• Platinum
• 2nd place High Score Teen Lyrical
• 7th place High Score Teen Group
• Outstanding Execution
"Don't Touch"
• Platinum
• 2nd place High Score Teen Jazz
"Billie Jean"
• Platinum
• 4th place High Score Teen Group
SENIOR COMPANY
"Both Reached for the Gun"
• Platinum
• 1st place High Score Teen Line
• 1st place High Score Teen Musical Theatre
• Outstanding Execution
• Outstanding Showmanship
• Nominee for Critics' Choice Award
"Sleepytime"
• Platinum
• 1st place High Score Teen Specialty
• Outstanding Choreography
• Outstanding Execution
• Outstanding Showmanship
• Nominee for Critics' Choice Award
"Work"
• Platinum
• Outstanding Energy
• Outstanding Showmanship
"Smother"
• Platinum
"Edward Scissorhands"
• Gold
INTERMEDIATE COMPANY
(The intermediate company, for ages 11 to 14, was competing at the NYCDA event for the first time)
"Under Ice"
• Platinum
• 1st place High Score Junior Contemporary
• 2nd place High Score Junior Line
• Outstanding Choreography
• Outstanding Concept
• Nominee for Critics' Choice Award
"Angel"
• High Gold
• Outstanding Staging
"Let's Get Dumb"
• Gold
• Outstanding Intensity
XL GROUP
"At the End of the Day"
• Platinum
• 1st place High Score Teen Production
• Nominee for Critics' Choice Award
• Outstanding Concept
• Outstanding Intensity
• Outstanding Costume
"Skyrim"
• Gold
• Outstanding Intensity
And last but not least....
• Backstage Good Sportsmanship Award
